You
can spend just about as much or as little as you want in order to live in
Costa Rica. It really depends on two things: What do you want and what you
need - and they ARE different. There are persons who live wonderful lives in
Costa Rica on as little as $700 per month and they are happy. They may live
far from San José and in small accommodations eschewing cable TV, cultural
activities, shopping, and other amenities.

One source says that "average spending for a middle class family
of North Americans moving here, ranges between $1,800 and $2,500 per
month.

SHOULD
I BRING MY CAR OR BUY A NEW ONE IN COSTA RICA?

The answer is it is not a good
idea to bring your car here. Here are the reasons why:

When you bring a
car to Costa Rica by any means, you are charged import duties. HUGE
import duties. The import duty on a used car here runs from 45% to 70% of
THE RETAIL VALUE of that car! That is NOT the Blue book, Black book or
any other color book. It is the "Costa Rica book", and it is not cheap.
To be clear, that is BOOK price, NOT the price you paid for it in the USA.

On a $20,000 used
car, that's from $10,000 to $17,000 in duties depending on the age of the
car!. Newer cars actually have MORE duty and older cars have less.. older
meaning maybe ten years old. Also, just to be clear... if you own it (it
is titled), it is a used car.

Next, add about
$500.00 for freight charges to have it shipped from the US to Puerto Limon
where you will have to drive to get it! Finally, once it is here, you will
still need to have it inspected, pay your Marchamo, and insurance.

Next, models of
cars in the USA and other countries are not the same as here. Some are not
offered... some have different names model names here. I owned a Toyota
Avalon in the US and it is not even sold here. That means parts can be a
real problem. Some may have been interchangeable with a Camry, but many
others weren't.

To buy a car here,
I recommend a dealer, used or new, and make SURE you have the car
inspected by a competent mechanic before you sign the papers. It must be
able to pass the inspection. If not, there could be a lot of hidden
expenses. A private sale is not out of the questions, but then, the
mechanic's inspection is even more important. The best prices are always
in the Spanish language newspapers. Also, there is a ton of paperwork
buying a car here and the dealer will do all the footwork.

Do I need a
passport to go to Costa Rica?

A valid passport is mandatory to
enter Costa Rica. All passengers need a passport and there must be at
least six months remaining before the passport expires.

Do I need a visa to
go to Costa Rica?

Depending on your country of
origin you may enter Costa Rica without a visa. USA, Canada and most
European countries have this privilege. .

Can I enter Costa
Rica with a one way ticket?

In general, the answer is no.
Most airlines will not sell them, but this is changing and I understand
that some airlines will do this. Some require proof that you will be
applying for residency. As this seem to vary by airline, you should
contact them directly.

Do I need an
international drivers license to drive a car in Costa Rica?

No. An International license is
not required. You are allowed to drive with your normal drivers license
for whatever is the term of your visa.

How can I get
married in Costa Rica? What documents do I need?

Foreigners can get married in
Costa Rica. The documents needed are: - original birth certificate -
affidavit of single status - police record - valid passport - divorce
decree (if applicable) - These documents need to follow the authentication
procedure before being taken to Costa Rica. This means you must take or
send these documents to a Costa Rica Embassy in your country BEFORE you
come. They will attach tax stamps (timbres) and return the documents to
you. The current price is about $40.00 per document.

What is the
difference between the rain forest and the cloud forest?

Mainly the altitude and the
temperature. The rain forests are very hot and humid while the cloud
forest are humid and moist. The species of flora and fauna are
significantly different.

Is the water safe
to drink in Costa Rica?

The water is fine in nearly all
locations. When in very remote or rural areas, you may wish to drink
bottled water. Also, if you have a very sensitive stomach, bottled water
may be better

What is the
currency in Costa Rica?

The Costa Rican currency is
called Colon. US dollars may or may not be accepted. Do NOT count on it.
Major tourist areas accept dollars, as do most hotels and travel related
businesses, but a lot of small (and excellent) restaurants as well as
almost all the non-commercial artisan shops (not in a tourist trap area)
will accept neither dollars nor credit cards. Are credit cards accepted in
Costa Rica?

In the major tourist areas, yes.
However, many locations do not accept credit cards, especially those great
places where you actually see the artist creating something. Also, if
ANYTHING is priced in dollars, you are VERY likely over paying!

What kind of inoculations do I
have to take to Costa Rica?

No vaccines are required to enter
Costa Rica but for detailed information, . No matter where you travel
though, a tetanus shot (or booster) is always a good idea.

Do I need an
electric adapter for a hair drier?

Probably not but that depends on
the voltage in your home country. Outlets here are 110 V, with standard
US two prong plugs (or three prong if grounded).

What documents are
required to bring my pet to Costa Rica?

Dogs and cats entering Costa Rica
must have a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, endorsed
by a veterinarian service (VS) veterinarian. The examination for the
certificate must be conducted within the two weeks prior to traveling to
Costa Rica. The required vaccinations are: distemper, hepatitis,
leptospirosis, parvovirus and rabies (for animals 4 months or older).

Is there and exit
or departure tax in Costa Rica? If so, how much is it?

Departure tax is $26, can be paid
in US Dollars, colones or with a credit cards. This must be paid at the
point of exit.

How can I get a
visa so I can work in Costa Rica?

For
the most part, but with a couple of exceptions, you cannot work at all in
Costa Rica. Laws here, as in many countries (including the USA) are
designed to protect workers here from foreigners who would take jobs that
would otherwise be filled by a Costa Rican.

The
only exception to this rule is an annual work permit. If you are highly
skilled in an area where the job cannot be filled by a Costa Rican, the
employer can apply for a work permit for one year. Under the current
administration, this is almost impossible to get, and even under prior
administrations, it was very difficult. Costa Rica is not a third world
country. There is a large pool of highly literate and well trained people
to fill nearly every job category.

In
order to work here, you must the obvious question is,

How can I own a company and not WORK in it?

The
answer is that you can manage the affairs of the business but you may not
do the actual labor that can be done by an employee (Costa Rican).

Example: Recently there was a gentleman who owned a Bed and Breakfast
near one of the beaches in Costa Rica. The B&B had a restaurant as part
of the business. One day, as he was helping out by bussing a table, in
walked the immigration people who demanded to see his residency papers.
All was in order EXCEPT he was a pensionado and as such was NOT permitted
to do the actual labor in his own business. While not immediately
deported, he had to go through a tremendous amount of trouble including
appearances before immigration officials and he was nearly asked to leave
the country. He dodged a bullet, but was in no hurry to help clear tables
again.

So to
be clear, while you can own a business here and live off the income from
that business, you cannot actually work in that company in any capacity
other than owner and manager.

Representante is a form of residency most used by those who set up and
manage businesses in Costa Rica and serve as a Director in that
corporation. Here, you can receive a salary and do the work of the
corporation, but there are heavy investment minimums, a requirement for
annual certified financial statements, and you must employ Tico labor in
your business. Currently, it is a grand hassle to do this, and
immigration tends to make your life miserable by randomly and arbitrarily
enforcing the (sometimes non-existent) rules.

A
Permanent Resident has all the rights of a Costa Rican citizen except the
right to vote. As such, you can hold a job in any sector, own a company
and work within that company.

How can I apply for
legal residency in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica offers different ways
to legalize your status.

Costa Rica offers several
alternatives for legal residency:

a pensionado (pensioner),

a rentista (a foreigner with a
guaranteed income), an investor, a relative of a resident, or

if associated while doing a
foreign government assignment or an international mission.

representante a person who is
an executive of a company doing business in Costa Rica. Many
restrictions apply.

The pensionados and rentistas
program are the easiest method of establishing temporary residency in
Costa Rica.

In 1992, the legislature revoked
the tax exemption laws that allowed pensionados and rentistas to bring all
of their possessions into the country duty free. Under the current law,
these groups are no longer exempt and must pay import taxes on their
belongings.

To quality for the pensionado
status, one must fulfill three basic requirements: (1) prove that one
earns at least $600.00 per month from a qualified pension or retirement
account or from Social Security, (2) change at least $500.00 per month
into colones, and (3) live in Costa Rica for at least four months out of
the year.

In order to quality for rentista
status, one must fulfill three similar requirements: (1) prove that one
has outside investments that will guarantee $1,000.00 income per month for
five years, (2) change at least $1,000.00 a month into colones, and (3)
live in Costa Rica for at lease six months out of the year. Neither
pensionados nor rentistas pay taxes on money earned outside of Costa Rica.

Pensionados and rentistas have restrictions as well as rights in Costa
Rica. While either may set up their own business, they may NOT work for
anyone else. Individuals of either residency status must first become
permanent residents in order to obtain a work permit.

If I decide to stay
longer, can I get a visa while I am there?

When you enter Costa Rica, your
passport will be stamped and that is your visa to be here. The length of
time depends on your country of origin. Your visa CAN be renewed if you
leave the country for 72 hours. This cannot be done forever, but 2-3 times
is probably not a problem. Short trips to Panama, Nicaragua, or San
Andres are cheap and available. When you return, your visa will be
renewed automatically for 90 more days if you are from the USA. If you
are not from the USA or Canada,

What should I bring
when going to the rain forest?

All you need is insect repellent,
a rain coat with a hood and hiking boots.

What is the sales
tax in Costa Rica?

Sales tax is 13% but some other
travel related taxes are 17%.

What number should
I dial in case of emergency?

Dial 911. Do not expect the
operator to speak English.

Are there English
written newspapers?

The purpose of the
Serving Where the Need is Great Web Page is simply to share many of the
joys and experiences of needgreaters throughout the world. It has been prepared
with the hope of encouraging all of Jehovah’s servants as well as motivating
those who have the circumstances to reach out for this wonderful privilege of
service. In no way is the information provided here a substitute for following
the instructions of the Society which include contacting the Branch Office in
the country in which you would like to serve.